Patriots take a Mulligan, finalize roster

Wednesday

Sep 4, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Rich Garven, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Patriots made three roster moves Tuesday, bringing the total number of transactions to 18 over the past three days. In the process, they filled out their 53-man roster and eight-player practice squad.

Veteran tight end Matthew Mulligan was signed to the active roster. The fourth-year pro played for the Jets from 2009-11 and the St. Louis Rams last season. He spent the summer with the Green Bay Packers before being released Aug. 31.

"He's an experienced tight end that we've played against before," coach Bill Belichick said during a conference call, his players having the day off. "We'll put him in there in that group and see how it all comes together. He's had a lot of success blocking and he's a tough, physical player. But we'll see how it goes."

Mulligan provides depth at tight end heading into Sunday's season opener at Buffalo — a game All-Pro Rob Gronkowski is expected to miss as he continues to recover from offseason back surgery. The Patriots' other tight ends are rookie Zach Sudfeld and fourth-year pro Michael Hoomanawanui, who had five receptions last season.

Mulligan appeared in all 16 games last season for the 7-8-1 Rams, making nine starts and catching eight passes.

There was a lot of instability in the secondary over the summer with cornerbacks Alfonzo Dennard and Ras-I (The Departed) Dowling missing significant time to injuries and safety Devin McCourty sporting a red noncontact jersey more often than not.

However, there was one constant in the defensive backfield and, of all people, it was cornerback Aqib Talib, who frequently has been a conduit for trouble since entering the NFL in 2008.

"Very, very happy with his work and his ethic that he comes in as far as this guy studies film, he really practices hard, he competes every day," said defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who typically loathes complimenting an individual player of his. "He's a good example on the field for those guys who are coming into the program to get in behind him and follow along."

The Patriots acquired the previously troublesome Talib in a midseason trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 1. His presence elevated the secondary from appalling to adequate.

The fact he has been in the system for 10 months now is expected to be helpful over the upcoming 16 games.

"It's been good to have him through training camp, like everybody that we have," Patricia said. "Obviously, the more you're here, the more we can get down and improve upon. It certainly is beneficial to have everybody as long as we can from the spring all the way through."

Gone, not forgotten

Tim Tebow was released by the Patriots on Saturday and cleared waivers Sunday, meaning he's eligible to sign with any team in the league. There have been no takers thus far.

On Monday, Belichick didn't dismiss the idea of the inaccurate quarterback returning to New England in the future. The other members of the Patriots' power trio seconded that motion Tuesday, both citing the unpredictability of the NFL.

"I really enjoyed being with him," quarterback Tom Brady said while making his weekly scheduled appearance on WEEI. "And you never know. … Who knows who could be back on the team at some point this year? I wish him nothing but the best. He's really a great person and a great player."

Added owner Robert Kraft while appearing on "This Morning" on CBS: "We never know what's going to happen. You're one play away at all times from your whole game changing. … I haven't met a finer young man."

To put Tebow's employment prospects in perspective, we turn to Bovada. The Las Vegas outfit has set the odds of Tebow signing with an NFL team at 4-7 with his chances of latching on in the AFL at 5-2 and the CFL at 4-1.